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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 24, 2011
Eye Street
Index Woman’s Club 115th Birthday Celebration . . . . . .21 Cioppino Feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 War, Los Lobos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Spring Ring Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Healthy Bakersfield Kids Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31-33
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Dad’s life story should be a movie ... And so it is, as local family puts saga on film BY MATT MUNOZ Bakotopia.com editor mmunoz@bakersfield.com
O
n paper, the details of Donald P. Bailey’s life story sound a lot like what others of the Greatest Generation experienced: Surviving the Depression, serving in World War II and journeying westward to Bakersfield from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl migration. But Bailey’s life story isn’t just on paper. His daughter and grandson have seen to that. The two have taken all they’ve heard through the years of Bailey’s determination, courage and charisma and turned those memories into a film. “It’s so appropriate for Kern County and kind of brings a lot of flavor to the area looking back at our history,” said Elizabeth Waite, Bailey’s daughter and the visionary behind “The Measure of a Man,” which premieres Friday at the Fox Theater. The proud daughter turned to her own son, Andrew Waite, and his film company, Higher Definition Media. Andrew’s last feature film, 2009’s “Stamped,” also premiered at the Fox. “I was always getting scripts from people and then my mom calls me,” said Andrew, a Stockdale High graduate who lives in Bakersfield. “I was like, ‘Oh, no.’ But my wife and I read it and immediately saw it as a movie.” Elizabeth, who wrote, co-directed and produced, said she was inspired to pursue the project during a flight home to Bakersfield a year and a half ago. With no background as a script writer, she says her notebook began filling up once she started.
All alone at a young age Elizabeth described her father, who died of colon cancer at 57 in 1981, as a charming, charismatic man who rose above poverty and hardships at a very young age in his home state of Oklahoma. Raised by his father, who was always gone in search of work, young Donald endured the pain of being separated from his six siblings before moving to California at the age of 15. “My father was the second oldest out of seven children,” Elizabeth said. “The neighbors were complaining they weren’t being taken care of properly, so the
‘The Measure of a Man’ When: Doors at 6 p.m. Friday, red carpet at 6:30, film at 7; Saturday matineeonly screening at 2 p.m. Running time 109 minutes. Where: Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $10 for premiere, $6 for matinee plus service charges Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com
authorities came and took them away. He traveled to California alone after he was old enough to leave the orphanage.” During his journey, Bailey found a new home in Bakersfield. Elizabeth’s mother, Emogene, who came from similar circumstances and also moved west with her family, was just 14 when she met 19-year-old Donald in 1942. “They were two people who came together to raise a family and give them a really good life,” said Elizabeth. “They were both selfeducated. My father was also a singer and a farmer.” Andrew Waite the grandson understandably was proud of his grandparents’ struggles. But Andrew Waite the filmmaker wasn’t entirely convinced their story would made a good film — until a few readings of his mother’s original film treatment. Presented through a series of flashbacks, the movie begins in the hospital during Bailey’s final moments of life with daughter Elizabeth and wife, Emogene, at his bedside. Narrated by actress Jules Hartley, who plays Elizabeth, the film consists of a collection of memories brought to life on screen. The plot follows Bailey from his war experience to settling in Bakersfield and building a family. In the film’s official trailer, Bailey is portrayed as a happy-go-lucky, all-American farmer who worked his way up in the fertilizer business before becoming a prominent Bakersfield landowner. Elizabeth credits her parents with keeping the family’s history alive for her and her siblings. “My mother was such an incredible storyteller, as was my father. There are so many things they passed on that are presented in the film.”
This house looks familiar To ensure realism, Andrew said he was constantly on his toes. “I had an idea of what it would
JENNIFER CULPEPPER / ARTISAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Jarin Stevens, center, won the part of Donald P. Bailey after auditioning via computer from Utah. “The Measure of a Man” follows Bailey’s life story, including the mark he made as a father to his children.
look like, but I always asked my mom. The movie period is from 1924 to 1981, so it was tough,” said Andrew of creating authentic-looking sets at the right locations. With actors found mostly at Los Angeles casting calls, the film was ready to roll in Kern County, where principal photography began last July. Ultimately, the shoot lasted six weeks and cost $250,000. “We shot almost entirely in Bakersfield, and also in Taft, Shafter, and Santa Barbara,” said Andrew. “We used cotton fields, the countryside, Kern County Museum, and shot the war scene in Shafter grapevines to get a France look.” They certainly didn’t have to scout far for some locations. “The house we used for filming on Sunset Avenue in Bakersfield was the same home all of the kids lived in when they were little,” said Elizabeth of her family. To Andrew’s surprise, the home looked frozen in time. “The owners didn’t do much updating. That was a fluke,” he said.
‘We came close to killing each other’ As a first-time director, Elizabeth described the experience of working alongside her son as both emotionally draining and rewarding. “There were times we came
The house on Sunset Avenue in Bakersfield used in the filming of “The Measure of a Man” was the same home where Elizabeth Waite and seven of her eight children had lived.
close to killing each other,” she said, shaking her head. “But I have an extremely talented son who’s a natural artist with an incredible eye.” “This will probably be the last time we work together, but everything came out great and I’m very happy,” seconded Andrew. Providing the film’s original score was local composer Briana Sorkin-Lee, who wrote four original songs for the movie. For the film’s gala premiere on Friday, the filmmakers have a full night of entertainment planned, beginning with the arrival of the
cast via limousine and the requisite red carpet. Inside the theater, costumes used in the movie will be available for viewing and auction, with a portion of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. A question-and-answer session with the cast and crew will follow the screening. All festivities are open to the public. After this weekend’s premiere, the film will hit the festival circuit in search of a distributor. “There’s a lot of positive light in the film,” Elizabeth said. “You’re going to walk out having a new outlook on life.”